Cost of Higher Education in India – Infographic & Calculator

Looking at the new developments in the educations sector it’s really tough to gaze at the future of education cost. Private universities like Jindal & Ashok pr even for that matter Manipal provide quality education but at cost. If we are just talking with the perspective of inflations – let’s assume it’s the same 10% going forward:

If the cost of engineering education in India in some premier institute cost today 10 Lakh – The education cost in India after 15 years would be 40 to 50 Lakh.

If medical education cost today Rs 25 lakh in private college – you can safely assume you have to build 1 crore corpus in 15 years.

India is one of the fastest developing countries in the world. Not only India’s rich heritage and culture, but lately education have also attracted aspirants from all over the world. Moreover, due to the rich history of education, India has a reputation for innovation and growth, which can contribute greatly to your personal and professional life. With thousands of institutions providing specialized to choose from, you are sure to find the right university and /or college for the education. Below are the most crucial factors that affect the cost of studying in India:

Tuition Fee: The first and the foremost factor that one needs to consider before enrolling in Indian universities is that the annual cost of education along with living, which can be around Rs 350000 on an average.

Accommodation: A number of Indian Universities provide accommodation for international students or Indian students within their campus. However, in case the university or college you have chosen for pursuing your studies does not provide this facility, you can easily find personal accommodation.

The students have various options such as a private hostel or rent a single/double room and/or get a flat/apartment on rent. In fact, there are numerous benefits of opting for private accommodation. When it comes to expenses you can easily find a comfortable stay for a month within Rs 10000, which is annually Rs 120000.

Other Expenses:

Eating out: Rs 1500 to Rs 4500 per week

Utility: Rs 200 to Rs 500 per week

Transportation( Public): Rs 50 to Rs 100 per week

Transportation( Private): Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per week

Leisure Activities: Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per week

You can buy a BMW or spend on your child. That might sound cruel because parenting a child is way more challenging and satisfying than buying a depreciating asset like a car. As your child grows, nature and the amount you spend on her changes dramatically.

Primary education:

In Government schools, education is free for children aged 6 to 14 yrs old and Private schools charge Rs 1200-2000 per month (on a lower end). Parents end up spending approx Rs 192000 to give their children a good primary education for 8 years

Secondary Higher Education:

Secondary education covers children aged 12 to 18, providing secondary education to children in a government school for 6 years now cost approx Rs 30600 whereas the same education in a private school cost approx Rs.396000. If the Kid is studying in a boarding, then the parents spend approx Rs 1800000 for the next 6 years.169% has been the rise in inflation in primary and secondary education from 2005 to 2011, according to a survey by Assocham.

Graduation and Post Graduation education cost in India

Govt College cost around Rs 5-6 lakhs

Private College will cost around Rs 8-10 lakhs

Abroad will cost around Rs 1 crore.

Cost of Medical education in India

Govt College cost around Rs 5-10 lakhs

Private College cost around Rs 18-20 lakhs

Abroad cost around Rs 1 Crore

Cost of Commerce & Arts education in India

Govt College cost around Rs 2000-15000

Private College cost Rs 2.5-5 lakhs

Abroad will cost Rs 50 lakhs

Cost of engineering education in India

Engineering is still most sought out stream of education in India & why not that’s highly paying & satisfying job. US silicon valley is filled with Indian engineers.

The normal cost of engineering is Rs 1.25 lakh per year or Rs 5 Lakh for the 4-year course. But if we talk about premier colleges like IIT or BITS Pilani – parents should be ready to pay anywhere between 10 to 15 lakh.

For Post Graduation – Again similar amount should be considered.

Becoming a doctor after completing Medical education is still an uncacheable dream for students & their parents. The biggest reason is seats are very limited in government colleges & competition is very high.

Fees are very reasonable in government colleges & 5 years course can be completed with less than 10 Lakh Rs. But in Private college Rs 50 Lakh is standard for the same cost.

If someone is interested in PG – he should be prepared to pay another Rs 30 Lakh in private institute.

We have created an infographic so that you get a complete picture visually. As they say, A picture is worth a thousand words.

Hemant Beniwal is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and his Company Ark Primary Advisors Pvt Ltd is registered as an Investment Adviser with SEBI. Hemant is also a member of the Financial Planning Association, U.S.A and registered as a life planner with Kinder Institute of Life Planning, U.S.A.
He started his Financial Planning Practice & TFL Guide Blog in 2009. "The Financial Literates" is a dream & mission to make Indians Financial Literate.

Nice calculator and very important considerations for parents. Treating all goals as one in which periodic withdrawals are made will make a significant reduction in amt to be invested (as much as 25%). Further reduction is possible if amt inv is increased each year. For example an 10% yearly increase taken together with the first aspect can result in a 40-50% decrease in amt to be invested. Subject to other data entered.

Excellent article on current and future education cost.. but I have some other views about education.. Education institute in India have become like any other profit making business in the country.. specially run by many politician directly or indirectly like they do in any lucrative property business ..

Where as on the other hand we have many western countries where primary or up to secondary education are completely sponsored by government of that country…

In India even though there are many government aided school that running successfully, but one more fact is that one cannot compare them with private school facility and teachings… and that is because.. these school are not provided sufficient fund to operate smoothly..

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. ~ By Benjamin Franklin

Seven Deadly Sins: Wealth without work Pleasure without conscience Science without humanity Knowledge without character Politics without principle Commerce without morality Worship without sacrifice.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Gr8 Hemant. You have covered a lot of points in this article. I want to know that are your assumptions about the future are based on the costs in Metro cities or you have included the smaller cities and towns as well because that is where most of the people still live today. Because cost of living also plays an important role in these points you mentioned.

Very useful article. Calculator is of course one of the best I have come across. Very ease to access and an eye opener to parents in many ways especially to certain class who do not believe in saving for the child future.

Hi Hemant This year my daughter secured admission in MCA at Panjab University Chandigarh. She is staying in the hostel. She started her preparations for admission tests by joining a coaching institute for one year. She took half a dozen tests for which she had to travel to Delhi, Noida, Kurukshetra, Chandigarh and Mumbai along with me. Admission involves a lot of paper work and travel. Preadmission coaching and travel costs money.

Its really an eye opener article. In the coming days Indian Population will suffer like anything in terms of Food, Entertainment, Education and Housing. One thing is certain at this present state of India Population, Indian Middle and Upper Middle Class just cannot sustain itself for another 10-15 more years. They are surely to be exterminated, since thts wht the Darwinian Theory says.

The problem of Education is compounded to be more in the coming 10 years because Indians BREED like Rabbits. Until and unless that is not controlled, Indians deserve to suffer.

Good to see however hemant still not clear that avg Indian are on avg salaried person including myself. I stretched my saving to a utmost limit but still I am far away as per your projection…. believe me my only option if my kin gets some types of scholarships.

It will be great if you can share some more small savings scheme which in future will boost my output